8-16-16 Weekly Newsletter: St John the Evangelist Orthodox Church

In giving birth you preserved your virginity, / In falling asleep you did not forsake the world, O Theotokos. / You were translated to life, O Mother of Life, / And by your prayers, you deliver our souls from death.

Kontakion — Tone 2

Neither the tomb, nor death could hold the Theotokos, / Who is constant in prayer and our firm hope in her intercessions. / For being the Mother of Life, / She was translated to life by the One who dwelt in her virginal womb.

NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS:

SAVE THE DATES:

1. OUR PATRONAL FEAST OF ST JOHN 9-24-16 to 9-25-16This year we will celebrate our Patronal Feast Day of St John the Evangelist Saturday 9-24-16 and Sunday 9-25-16. All the area Orthodox faithful and friends are invited to attend Saturday evening’s service which will be followed by a reception. Unfortunately, His Eminence Archbishop Benjamin will not be able to join us but he will be with us 10-8-16 to10-9-16.More details to follow.

2. All day Saturday Nativity Retreat 11-19-16 presented by Fr. Josiah Trenham.
Fr. Josiah will speak on his Series the “Good Husband and the Good Wife”. Everyone is welcome and we will be hosting the retreat at our church for all the area faithful. Tentatively, it will begin at 10am, we will have lunch, then end with Vespers at 5pm. More details to follow.

3.Sunday 9-4-16 St John Town Hall Meeting during Fellowship Meal
We will have our St. John parish life “Third Quarter Update & Review”. Parish Council will update the parish and then we will have an open forum for Q&A and Feedback. Please bring all dreams, wishes, concerns, and suggestions for improvements at our St John community etc to the meeting.

SPECIAL CHOIR PRACTICE 8-27-16 SATURDAY FROM 3-6pmAll choir members please come to this important practice in preparation for his Eminence Archbishop Benjamin’s visit 10-8-16 to 10-9-16. After the Choir Practice please also stay to sing Great Vigil and share your angelic voices with our community.

2016-17 ORTHODOX VALLEY YOUTH CALENDAR This project is being spearheaded by Assumption Greek Orthodox Church. Below is the 2016-17 Valley Orthodox Youth Calendar. An annual schedule full of monthly activities available to Middle and High School Youth (6th-12th Grade).

2. ST JOHN IS LOOKING FOR A FEW GOOD MEN AND WOMEN
We need people to help in the following areas:1. Land Acquisition and Building Development
We are now positioned to grow our parish in our new remodeled space! But simultaneously we need help keeping an eye out for land, and potential church property in the surrounding area for us to build our permanent church. Also keep your eyes and ears open for people who may want to donate property and funds to help us achieve our goal.

Further, we just opened a Wells Fargo brokerage account where people can donate their appreciated stock to the Church. It is a WIN-WIN! The donor gets the full value of the transaction as a deduction on his taxes, and does not have to declare the capital gains as income, and the Church gets the funds.

2. “I AM THE VINE, YOU ARE THE BRANCHES” FAMILY TREE IN FELLOWSHIP HALLWe have a spectacularly beautiful mural of Christ as the vine adorning our fellowship hall and we would love to put your picture on the wall. Please email me a digital photo of you/your family that I can print as a 5×7 color photo and I will have it printed and framed.
God Bless,